This blog started off by focussing on NZ's smaller 3rd level airlines, past and present. It has evolved to trying to present some record of NZ's domestic airline operations and some of the larger charter operators, interesting NZ international airliner movements and photos I have taken around the country. Comments, corrections or contributions are welcome, Steve - westland831@gmail.com

14 October 2012

North South Aviation's Quikmail Air Freight Operation

Quikmail
International Ltd was registered as a New Zealand independent courier and freight consolidation
company on the 9th
of November 1989.
In 1993 the company established its own air freight operation. On the 30th
of March 1993 Barry and David Walsh, principals of Quikmail International,
established North
South Aviation Limited. On the 5th of April 1993 an Embraer
EMB-110P1 Bandeirante arrived in New Zealand and it was registered to Quikmail as
ZK-KML (c/n 110248) on the 21st of April 1993 and to North South
Aviation on
the 27th of May 1993. KML was no stranger to New Zealand as it had
previously been operated for Ansett’s Tranzair as ZK-REU from late 1990 to mid 1991.

KML was used to introduce a new night
courier service incorporating Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Taupo
began in May 1993. Initially the air freight operation was managed by Ardmore
Flying School and operated under their licence. This meant that the Ardmore
Flying School was effectively the operator who were also responsible for the crewing of
the aircraft. Using
experienced Bandeirante pilots, such as Chief pilot Steve Mosen who had
previously been the training captain for Air Rarotonga, the air freight
operation offered a career path for the instructors and new generation of
pilots graduating from the Ardmore Flying School.North South Aviation gained their own
licence and took over the managing of the operation from the
Ardmore Flying School at the beginning of July 1993.

In cargo configuration, North South Aviation's Embraer Bandeirante ZK-KML at Auckland on 25 November 1993. It still carried the blue tail from when Tranzair used it.

NZ Herald 11 August 1993

Quikmail International specialised in same-day
urgent courier consign­ments and with the development of the freight airline the
company was able to offer overnight freight and express work. This
lessened their reliance on the major airlines to move their freight. The South
Island Fastway Couriers franchise was a major contractor and each weekday
evening ZK­-KML flew direct from Auckland to Christchurch, the hub of
Fastway's operations. From their trucks carried the freight to other South Island
destinations by morning. Fastway's North Island hub was at Turangi, so the
return flight
stopped at Taupo from where the freight was distributed by road. The
Bandeirante then flew an early morning flight from Auckland to Wellington. In
Wellington Rex Aviation
was contracted to undertake the maintenance but the aircraft could also be
used for charter work from Wellington. The return flight to Auckland Airport
carried 6000 Evening Post newspapers as Wellington Newspapers moved into the
market left empty by the demise of the Auckland Star. In terms of
freight capacity the Bandeirante could carry 1400 to 1500 kg from Auckland to
Christchurch, cruising at 195 kts. The cabin had canvas lining that
clipped in around the curtain rails, over the carpet on the floor, and that
could come
out and enabling the reinstalling of the seats within a few minutes.

Later North South Aviation also leased
Piper
Chief­tain ZK-VIP to serve the scheduled newspaper and same-day freight run to
Wel­lington. This allowed the Bandeirante to be used for daytime charter
work. While
the main focus was on carriage of freight the Bandeirante was also available
for passenger charter work which was organised by Auckland’s Skycare
owner Alan Tonkin.

In passenger configuration... the cabin lining out, the seats in. North South Aviation's Embraer Bandeirante ZK-KML at Dunedin on 17 July 1993. The Bandit came to Dunedin for the Bledisloe Cup match of that day at Carisbrook... final score, New Zealand 25 - Australia 10.

By March 1994 the North South Aviation flights also
included Palmerston North. Despite good contract work the airline found itself
in financial strive to the tune of some $ 390,000 and the operator placed
itself in voluntary liquidation on the 27th of June 1994.